Pasay’s most wanted falls

Only 21 years old, Romel Capones was Pasay City’s most wanted man until his recent arrest in Eastern Samar.

"Capones has the most number of cases filed before the Pasay City court for crimes ranging from murder to theft. At 19, he was already wanted for murdering a 14-year-old boy," Senior Supt. Oscar Catalan, Pasay City police chief, said yesterday.

Catalan was referring to the murder of Jaime Polhen III on Jan. 20, 2001.

Capones, a resident of Barangay Sto. Niño, Baclaran, Pasay, allegedly shot to death Polhen and injured two of his friends after they got into a fight.

Capones, whose older brother is reportedly already serving time at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City, was arrested based on a warrant issued by the court hearing the Polhen murder trial.

According to Catalan, the Pasay police received a tip that Capones would be attending his son’s baptism and party in Samar. A team headed by Senior Insp. Rodolfo Panaligan then flew to Samar to arrest Capones.

Curiously, Catalan said the suspect was immediately able to secure the services of three lawyers.

"He must have money because even his child’s baptism party was an all-day affair," Catalan said.

At the press conference, Capones showed his feistiness when he angrily shouted that a certain "Joey" tipped the authorities of his whereabouts.

Catalan said Capones has been recruiting young people – from 11 to 16 years old – into his band of hoodlums. Two other young men, both aged 21, were arrested along with Capones. They were each carrying a caliber .38 and caliber .45 pistols.

No bail was recommended for Capones, who would be detained at the city jail.